Sesquicentennial celebration
St. John’s Episcopal Church to mark its 150th anniversary with a two-day observance Oct. 10-11

By Martha Witt
Special to the Metro Monthly

• Editor’s note: Martha Witt is chairwoman of the sesquicentennial. St. John’s Episcopal Church will mark its 150th anniversary this month on the weekend of Oct. 10-11. The church has scheduled a “Choral Evensong” at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10 and a “Festal Eucharist” at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11.

St. John’s had its beginnings during the 1850s, when Henrietta Foster Thornton, a sister of the songwriter Stephen Foster, began a children’s Sunday school in her home on West Federal Street. There was no Episcopal Church in Youngstown at that time, though occasionally a minister would come from St. James in Boardman or Christ Church in Warren to hold a service.

In 1859, a group of Episcopalians decided to form a parish in Youngstown, and St. John’s was founded in December of that year. By 1861, they were able to build a church on Wood Street, overlooking the city, and call their first priest, the Rev. Wyllys Hall.

The church grew along with the city, and several mission chapels were founded for members who could not easily get to Wood Street. The first was St. James Chapel in Smoky Hollow. Both St. John’s and the chapel had large Sunday schools, and newsletters from 1880 have articles about the women of the church collecting and distributing food and clothing for needy members of the community. Members of St. John’s were active in founding or assisting St. Andrew’s, St. Augustine’s and St. Rocco’s churches.

In 1896, the Wood Street church was badly damaged by fire, and the congregation built the current building on Wick Avenue, in the midst of one of the city’s finest residential districts.

From 1898 to the 1960s, the boys’ and men’s choir was known for its excellence. In addition to singing at Sunday services, they performed concerts in Youngstown and nearby towns. Today the choir continues to lead Sunday worship. Dr. Ronald L. Gould founded the Boar’s Head Festival in the 1960s. The program features an Epiphany pageant with choral and congregational music and is offered as a gift to the community.

For many years much of St. John’s outreach was done by the women’s and youth organizations. They raised money for missions, and collected and distributed food, clothes and other necessities, not only for needy people in Youngstown but also as far away as South Dakota and Puerto Rico. During the Great Depression, the Rev. Leonard Stryker was known as a compassionate and generous man who helped many in and outside the parish. In the 1960s, the Rev. John Burt founded the Youngstown branch of the American Civil Liberties Union.

He and his successors, along with lay members, worked to improve racial relations in Youngstown and beyond.
St. John’s currently supports a number of local agencies financially and with volunteers. They include the Beatitude House, Habitat for Humanity, Help Hotline, Interfaith Home Maintenance, the Needle’s Eye, Protestant Family Service and the Ursuline Sisters HIV/AIDS Ministry.

The church has supported the Rescue Mission for over 100 years, and Mahoning Valley Association of Churches since its beginnings as the Youngstown Council of Churches. Members of St. John’s were instrumental in founding the Youngstown Point. The Red Door Food Pantry conducts a food giveaway on the third Saturday of each month. The Youngstown City Schools ABLE Program holds classes at St. John’s through the school year.

Starting in the 1960s, when St. John’s and First Presbyterian Church opened the Gates of Eden Coffee House for students, the church has reached out to YSU students and faculty. The coffee house was followed by support for Cooperative Campus Ministry (now Protestant Campus Ministry). In 2006 our curate, the Rev. Jeremiah Williamson, began “Thinking Christians.” The group meets weekly on the YSU campus and provides a forum for students to discuss questions about faith and life. They also perform service projects. Over the years, many YSU students have blessed us as members of St. John’s choir.

The “Youngstown Initiative,” also begun by Williamson, invites visiting groups to stay at St. John’s and perform mission work in the city. It is funded through the Diocese of Ohio. Groups have worked with Habitat for Humanity, Easter Seals and the St. John’s Red Door Café.

In 2001 our former rector, Rev. John Horner, founded Wick Neighbors, with the goal of promoting collaboration among Wick Avenue institutions and revitalizing Smoky Hollow. Wick Neighbors includes the Mahoning Valley Historical Society, the Butler Institute of American Art, Main Library and YSU, as well as Butler Presbyterian, First Presbyterian and St. John’s.

In July, one of the churches hosts the Community Service during YSU’s “Summer Festival of the Arts.” The Smoky Hollow Project is proceeding slowly, but it is proceeding.
Horner began a monthly healing service, held at 2 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month. During his time at St. John’s, St. Rocco’s and St. Andrew’s parishes closed due to declining membership. Since some of their former members attend St. John’s, we were given two statues from St. Rocco’s and the original altar and ambry from St. Andrew’s, which have been incorporated into our worship space.

Early members included David Tod, governor of Ohio during the Civil War, and his family. His daughters, Miss Sallie Tod and Mrs. Grace Tod Arrel, were generous supporters of the church’s music (especially the boys’ choir) and outreach. Edward L. Ford and his children, Judge John Ford and Mrs. Blanche Ford Agler, gave the church its parish house and bells. William F. Maag, owner of The Youngstown Vindicator and WFMJ, was a long-time member, vestryman and benefactor.

Over the years membership has changed as the city has changed. At one time, most lived in Youngstown, especially on the North Side. While some of us still live in the city, most come from the surrounding areas of Mahoning and Trumbull counties and Western Pennsylvania. We are a diverse congregation of many interests and avocations who choose to worship and serve God in the heart of the city. Our doors are open to all who come. We believe that all are welcome in God’s Kingdom.

Lee Fisher to speak Oct. 8
at Chamber breakfast

Lt. Governor Lee Fisher will visit the Mahoning Valley on Thursday, Oct. 8 to recognize the fastest- growing businesses in the area and give the keynote address at the 17th annual Mahoning Valley Growth Awards Breakfast.

The event, which starts at 7:30 a.m. at Mr. Anthony’s in Boardman, is presented by the Regional Chamber and sponsored by Youngstown State University’s Williamson College of Business Administration.

The Growth Awards seeks to recognize the vitality, productivity and competitiveness of Mahoning Valley businesses. For more information, or to make reservations, call 330-744-2131, ext. 12. Cost is $20 for Chamber members and $25 for non-members.

Fisher’s career has spanned the private, public and nonprofit sectors. During the first two years of the Strickland-Fisher administration, he served as the director of the Ohio Department of Development. With more than 17 years in public service, Fisher has served as Ohio attorney general, state senator and state representative.

He has worked as a private attorney, public company board director and a law clerk for the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Public Library cuts hours
in response to budget crisis

A new schedule of reduced hours began on Sept. 8 at the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County.
The schedule was reduced by 113 hours per week. To determine the new structure of hours, administrators studied usage at each location so that libraries could remain open during peak visitation hours. Days and hours open have been staggered between libraries to maintain the best public access.

Cuts were made necessary by reductions in the state’s Public Library Fund caused by the downturn in the economy, coupled with additional cuts in state funding in the biennium budget. This is the second cut in hours in 2009. The first reductions were made in May when funds began a sharp downturn. With the passage of the state’s biennium budget, which cut an additional 11 percent from library funding, further reductions in hours were needed.

Unlike other states, Ohio’s libraries receive the bulk of their funding through the Public Library Fund, which is comprised of tax receipts. In a bad economy, those receipts decline. This year, Mahoning County’s libraries are expected to lose $1.7 million in state funds. The cuts already made have accounted for most of that amount, but an additional $305,708 in funds remains to be reconciled before Dec. 31 to maintain a balanced budget. The Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County is debt free and the board does not want to incur debt in the operation of the library system.

The Public Library has been faced with a steady erosion of funds from 2001 to 2009. Each year, the library loses about $1.8 million in state funding. From 2001 to 2009, that amounts to about $14.4 million. The Public Library has been dealing with those cuts over the years, but this year, the economic downturn and the new state budget resulted in a huge reduction in funds. I

ronically, this lack of funds comes at a time when library use is way up, as is traditional when the economy is bad. People are using the free services. Many are using library computers to search and apply for jobs or file for benefits. The cut in hours means less accessibility for those computers, which are in high demand. Last year, public access computers were in use for approximately 480,000 hours.

The budget to purchase library materials was also cut, and all staff members, including the director and administrative staff, have taken pay cuts.

The situation for 2010 looks grimmer, with another $684,000 in reduced funds from the Public Library Fund expected.

Carlton A. Sears, library director, says of the layoffs: “It is tragic that the financial resources to operate the library as we have in the past simply no longer exist. This fact is painful to all of us who struggle with decisions we know will impact people that we consider not just colleagues but friends.”

The Library will have a one-mill renewal levy on the November ballot. While necessary, this levy will not bring the Library back to a sufficient level of funding to maintain existing services.

Forum CEO steps down as part bankruptcy strategy

Forum Health announced on Sept. 21 that it had reached a resolution to all objection issues raised by its secured lenders during a Sept. 15 hearing before the Bankruptcy Court in Youngstown.  

As part of this agreement, Forum agreed to the secured lenders’ requirement that an interim chief executive officer with specific healthcare and hospital management experience be hired to replace Walter “Buzz” Pishkur, who will step down as Forum Health president and CEO. Pishkur will continue at Forum as a consultant to the interim CEO, and to its chief restructuring officer. The board believes this resolution provides a clear pathway for an exit from bankruptcy.  

The interim placement will be followed by a search for a permanent CEO with healthcare experience after Forum has filed its plan of reorganization with the bankruptcy court.
At press time, the interim CEO was expected to be in place by the end of September. The board extended its thanks to Pishkur, citing his significant personal sacrifices for the benefit of Forum and the entire community. The board noted that his leadership was key to bringing the organization through a very difficult time, providing both hope and vision for the future.  The board also said it is pleased that he will continue to be involved in his new capacity.

The board announced that Michael Seelman, chief operating officer of Northside Medical Center, and Bob Wolleben, chief operating officer of Trumbull Memorial Hospital, and Marilyn Titus, vice president and chief operating officer of Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital, will continue in their current capacities.

Forum Health’s history dates back to 1881 with the founding of the Youngstown Hospital Association.  The association established Youngstown’s first hospital in 1883 and eventually opened Northside Medical Center in 1929. The system evolved into Forum Health in 1997 when Northside Medical Center and the former Tod Children’s Hospital merged with Trumbull Memorial Hospital.

Animal Welfare League
launches drive for shelter

A project designed to dramatically improve the quality of care for abused and abandoned animals, while providing new educational opportunities for local students, will soon be coming to the region. The Animal Welfare League of Trumbull County has unveiled plans for an all new Animal Welfare Care and Education Center in Champion Township.

The Covelli family and Cafaro Foundation have partnered with matching donations of $250,000 each to launch the project.
Caryn Covelli expressed hope “that the initial gifts from Mrs. (Phyllis) Cafaro and I will encourage other organizations and individuals to contribute to the fund-raising effort.”

“This is the type of community resource that is sorely needed,” added Phyllis Cafaro. “It will improve the care of helpless pets that have been abandoned or neglected by their owners. Even more importantly, it will provide new opportunities for young people striving for careers as veterinarians, zoologists or veterinary technicians.”

Trumbull County is donating eight acres of land near the Kent State Trumbull Campus as the site for the new facility. The planned structure will be approximately 25,000 square feet and more than double the housing capacity of the shelter the Animal Welfare League operates on Brunstetter Road in Lordstown.

“We believe this will be the first of its kind,” said Barbara Busko, Animal Welfare League president. “It will create a public/private partnership between the county, Trumbull Career and Technical Center (TCTC) and the Animal Welfare League.”

The arrangement will allow the existing county dog pound to close and the dog warden to work from the new facility. According to the League, the existing dog pound has long been regarded as too small to properly care for all stray animals within Trumbull County.

The new Animal Welfare Care and Education Center will include state-of-the art features for providing veterinary care. It will be a “green” building, incorporating technologies that will enable it to be LEED certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. Moreover, it will be able to accommodate classes of students in the Animal Management Technology Program at TCTC, allowing them to have hands-on training at the new shelter.

The overall cost of construction is estimated at $6.6 million. The Animal Welfare League is offering donors the chance to purchase “naming rights” for all or part of the new facility. “With sufficient private donations, we stand a good chance of accessing public grant money to help fund the project,” Covelli said. She is co-chair of the project along with Cindy D’Amico and veterinarian Dr. Rufus Sparks.

The Animal Welfare League of Trumbull County is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization that has been serving the local community for nearly 40 years. Tax deductible contributions may be made by contacting the Animal Welfare League of Trumbull County at 330-394-3512. The League’s fund-raising consultant, The Bentz Group, will process donations sent to its office: 303 Washington St., N.W., Warren, Ohio 44483. The phone number is 330-306-5743.

CityScape plans fall tour
of 4 sacred landmarks

Youngstown Cityscape’s Historic Preservation Committee is planning a Sacred Landmarks Tour at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26.

Registration for the tour will begin at 8 a.m. at the Commerce Building, 201 Commerce St. Free parking will be available during the event.

The landmarks tour will visit four area churches: St. Cyril & Methodius, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Martin Luther Lutheran and the Youngstown Metro Church.

A guide will greet the tour group at each stop and give a brief history of the congregation, along with a description of the building’s architecture. The group will tour the interior of each facility.

Following the tour, lunch will be served at the Youngstown Club.

Space is limited and tickets will be sold on a first come/first served basis. Tickets may be purchased in advance for $35 per person, which includes lunch at the Youngstown Club. Interested parties should mail checks to Youngstown CityScape, P.O. Box 75, Youngstown, Ohio 44501, by Sept. 15 to reserve a seat.

For more information, call 330-742-4040 or e-mail cityscapedirector@sbcglobal.net.

Cancer Society seeking Trumbull County drivers

Volunteers from Trumbull County are needed to help with the American Cancer Society Road to Recovery program. This free program provides rides to cancer patients who lack transportation to and from their medical treatment.

“For years we have depended on volunteers to assist us with all of our fund-raising events and with our programs,” said Barb Barsch, the volunteer coordinator of the program. “But we need dependable drivers to help us according to their own schedule. There are a number of reasons why patients need this service. Unfortunately, if we don’t have volunteer drivers the service remains at a standstill.”

Patients use the Road to Recovery program because they are unable to drive to treatment or because they do not have friends or family to transport them.

Volunteer drivers go to the patient’s home and take them to their treatment site. Once the treatment is over, the volunteer driver takes the patient back home.

“There are some instances when patients need treatment for several weeks, or on certain days for a specific number of weeks,” Barsch added. “Even patients who have friends and family often turn to us because there are times when they are unable to get a ride.”

There is no cost to the patient for this service. Volunteer drivers offer their vehicle and donate their time to drive them.
Road to Recovery is people helping people to overcome cancer. The volunteers provide an important service. Even the best medical treatment is useless if patients can’t get to and from treatment.

“The service is available to any person receiving cancer treatment who lives in Trumbull County. We get several calls each week, but because we need additional volunteer drivers to help out we are not able to help with all requests,” said Barsch. “Even if someone has only a couple hours a week to volunteer, it will help.”

The Cancer Society will provide a free and simple training program to those who are interested in assisting cancer patients with rides. Volunteer drivers must have a working vehicle that can accommodate the patient, a current driver’s license and proof of auto insurance. A personal background check will be conducted.

Those interested in helping may call Deborah Moore at the American Cancer Society toll free at 1-888-227-6446, ext. 2104.